My gear cable is too short!

[pembo]

Could I have done something wrong here? It's my first attempt at a bike build, trying to learn how it all works and get it built in time for next 'cross season (I might just get enough free time by then).

The cable to my front derailleur doesn't quite reach (about 3cm off).

The details:
Frame: Guerciotti Lyra cyclocross. Top routed cables, so it has a rolly-wheely thing (I'm sure that's the technical term for it) on the down tube to direct the cable to the front derailleur.
Cables: Sram MTB/Road cable kit.

I've cut the outer cables down to a similar length as my other cross bike as that seems to work but I'm thinking I could possibly cut these down a bit more but I'm not sure how much of a gain I would get from that?

Any ideas?

[Seight_Returns]

Surprised the cable isn't long enough - just built a bike too, albeit a road bike with the front mech cable routed under the downtube, under the bottom bracket and back up the seatpost tube to the mech - and I had to trim a good 30cm off.

Standard length Jagwire gear cable available from numerous Ebay sellers for less than a pound a cable.

If that really isn't long enough search for a tandem cable - may be a couple of pounds more but not the end of the world.

[shouldbworking]

If it's that far short I don't think the difference of a bit less outer on the curves is going to fix it. Surprised it's too short though, have you done some bizarro routing? not left any huge loops out front or extra under the bar tape?

[pembo]

They are Tiagra shifters so luckily I don't have to allow for following the handlebars otherwise I'd be sure to get it wrong but the loops of cable I have at the front may be a little on the large side.

That's what I was thinking about the cable being too short, I was expecting to have to trim a bit off so I was surprised to see it not reach.

I might just order another cable then but might send a quick email to Sram about it, I'm sure it wouldn't cost them much to set the machine to cut them a little longer in future.

[gazza285]

If it's a road bike specific set then the cable would be designed to go along the downtube and up a little way, with a bit to spare. Going along the top tube then down the seat tube, round the wheel deeley and back up is a fair bit further to go.

Get down the LBS and buy a new inner.

[agentnomad]

Use a rear gear cable and it will be too long so you can trim it to size.

Sounds like the outer cables are too long and need to be trimmed down a bit, a photo would be great so we could advise further.